How to handle workplace emotions the right way

One of the basic requirements of an ad is that it connects to the audience in some emotional way. Emotions are essential, and we have them all day, every day—which makes emotional regulation equally as essential. Emotional regulation is the ability to manage our reactions, preferably so we can respond thoughtfully rather than impulsively. Emotional regulation is a key component of emotional intelligence, a concept made mainstream by Daniel Goleman's book that asserts that emotional intelligence is just as important as IQ. Studies show that high emotional intelligence is a strong indicator of success, and nearly two-thirds of employers say they would not hire someone who has a high IQ but low emotional intelligence. NextGen Marketing Summit Join us for a crash course on Gen Z, DTC marketing and the creator economy Register today There are many reasons emotional regulation is vital at work. Let’s start with the fact that no one enjoys being around someone who lashes out, freaks out or otherwise behaves in undesirable and unproductive ways. On the flip side, emotional regulation positively impacts relationships—and strong relationships create strong team or client dynamics and promote empathy and collaboration. Work cultures that value emotional regulation experience better employee engagement and less turnover. Emotional regulation makes a difference in how you feel about yourself, how others perceive you and how situations are resolved. Goleman pointed out that ultimately emotional intelligence matters immensely in the workplace because it boils down to this: It helps people make better decisions. How can you implement emotional regulation quickly? Treat your workplace emotions as data When you receive a data report, you probably don’t make a judgment ahead of time, you read it with a neutral mind. It’s the same with emotions. Don’t judge yourself for having an emotional reaction or get lost in it—just examine it like you would a piece of data. Slow down Put space between the reaction and the reality. A quick way to do this is to take a breath—deeper than normal to slow your body and mind down. Remind yourself to slow down. In an emotional state, it’s very hard to access executive functions such as planning, strategy, decision and creativity. And you need executive function to help you figure out what to do next. Gen Z Career Forum Get practical advice on launching your career and excelling in the industry Register today Regain power Only you get to control how you respond to someone’s words or actions—and there is strength in knowing you have that ability. Remind yourself of this in heated moments by choosing a go-to power phrase such as “I control how I respond.” Go forward Decide what the best next step is. It might be seeing the issue from a different angle, which could be something positive that you haven’t yet considered. Maybe it’s acknowledging to yourself—or out loud to the other person—that you want to step back and will come back with a solution or response later. You can’t control what or how something is said to you or situations that are dealt to you, but you can control how you respond. Super Bowl ad review The best and worst commercials from the Big Game Click here

How to handle workplace emotions the right way

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